"Twisted"
Multi-award-winning Frozen head of animation Lino DiSalvo returns to the director’s chair with "Twisted", an original animated feature produced by Mediawan Kids & Family, the leading European animation studio ("Miraculous - the movie", "The little prince", "A magnificent life") and repped internationally by Sola Media.
Having started production earlier this month, "Twisted" will debut first-look footage at the Cannes Film Market (May 13–25). The film is slated for Q1 2027 delivery, with Le Pacte handling French distribution; France 3 Cinéma and Paramount+ France have also boarded the project.
Set in a picturesque Italian alpine village, "Twisted" follows Angelina, a teen who accidentally derails her town’s beloved festival and unleashes a swarm of mischievous magical creatures—each born from a lie she tells to cover her tracks. To restore order, she must journey across Italy with the Badalisc, a reluctant truth-telling folklore creature, in a heart-filled comedy-adventure about identity, community, and self-acceptance.
Lino DiSalvo, whose credits include "Frozen" and "Tangled" shared how he conceived the story: "This story has lived in my heart for years—a wild, emotional, personal story inspired by an Italian festival that celebrates a truth-telling monster and the beautiful chaos of family and heritage. We can always debate if we should lie or tell the truth to someone and Angelina goes on this journey of realizing you shouldn’t lie to yourself. We’re officially in production with an insanely talented, passionate team. I couldn’t be more excited—and proud—to finally bring this to life;" explained.
Meanwhile, Solveig Langeland, Managing Director at Sola Media, stated that the title will appeal to buyers at Cannes: "Buyers at Cannes can expect a visually rich, emotionally resonant journey with universal appeal. "Twisted" hits that perfect sweet spot between humor, heart, and high-concept family storytelling;" commented.
Finally, Emmanuel Jacomet, producing the film for Mediawan Kids & Family, contextualized the development of the title within the framework of France’s thriving animation industry.: ‘"In a challenging time for animation, we’re proud to make 'Twisted' in France, a country that continues to inspire with its world-renowned community of talented artists and the support of daring partners committed to help bring compelling, original stories like 'Twisted' to life," expressed.
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